Agricultural harvests underway across Canada

Agricultural harvests are progressing across various regions in Canada, with notable activity in the Okanagan and View Royal. In the Okanagan, a warm winter and hot, dry summer have compressed the growing season. Growers report that crops such as apples, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, and sunflowers are reaching harvest significantly ahead of schedule. Some apple varieties are seeing second picks approximately 12 days earlier than usual, while pumpkins are appearing on stands months ahead of Halloween.

In View Royal, the Welland Community Orchard, managed by the non-profit Victoria LifeCycles Project, is preparing for its annual Community Sharing Day on September 26. The orchard, which features over 100 varieties of apples, will host activities including heritage apple tastings, cider pressing, and orchard tours.

While some growers in the Okanagan have mitigated drought through irrigation, there are concerns regarding the health of fruit trees. If the fall remains dry, additional moisture may be required to ensure the stability of next year’s crops.